e-paper for e-books
The electronic paper display is reflective and can be read in bright sunlight or dimly lit environments while being able to be seen at virtually any angle. Resolution is approximately 170pixels per inch (66/cm). The display uses power only when an image is changed allowing more than 10,000 pages to be read before four AAA alkaline batteries need to be replaced.
Sony's LIBRIe e-book reader is similar in size and design to a paperback book. LIBRIe allows users to download published content such as books or comic strips from the internet. Storage on the Sony product allows for up to 500 downloaded books.
The commercialisation of the E Ink display technology is a result of collaboration started in 2001 between E Ink, Toppan Printing and Philips together with Sony. Over the past three years, the four companies have developed manufacturing techniques resulting in the world's first high-resolution electronic ink-based display module designed specifically for reading-intensive applications.
E Ink supplies electronic ink to Toppan Printing, that in turn processes the ink into a thin film called a frontplane laminate. Philips integrates the laminate with an active matrix backplane and adds the driving electronics component. Philips works with Sony to co-develop and customise the display solutions for mobile devices.
The partnership has resulted in more than 100 patents covering chemistry, electronics and manufacturing processes.
